Scottish Government this week released that latest statistics on the performance of Scottish agriculture.

The Economic Report on Scottish Agriculture provides an in-depth report on the sector, covering its structure and financial performance, with specific sections looking at crops, livestock, labour and some comparisons with other UK nations. It also contains an historical comparison with the census of 100 years ago.

Douglas McAdam, Chief Executive of Scottish Land & Estates, said: “The figures published today by the Scottish Government highlight the importance of farming in Scotland to the economy. It is a mixed picture and while overall farm incomes have dropped—highlighting the challenging weather we have faced in recent years—it is encouraging to note that some farms such as cattle and sheep, dairy and mixed farms have reported the highest level of income for many years.

Some headline figures are:

Initial estimates suggest that Total Income From Farming (TIFF) fell by £111 million to £635 million between 2011 and 2012, though this will be revised in January. This represented a fall of 15 per cent before inflation is accounted for but a fall of 19 per cent in real terms

Average Farm Business Income (FBI) in 2011-12 was £45,000 a decrease of £1,000 (three per cent) from 2010-11, and of £2,000 over five years (accounting for inflation)

Average farm incomes have only recently returned to levels seen in the mid-1990s, according to the Net Farm Income (NFI) measure. But some - such as cattle and sheep, dairy and mixed farms - achieved the highest incomes of the last 20 years in 2011-12

The liabilities of Scottish agriculture have risen 24 per cent between 2003 and 2012 to £2.4 billion, representing six per cent of total asset value

Cereal areas increased by 10,600 hectares (2.4 per cent), while the area of potatoes decreased by 1,500 hectares (4.9 per cent)

The value of barley rose £22 million (eight per cent), as higher prices and area outweighed lower yields. Several sectors took a greater hit, with the value of potatoes estimated to have fallen £40 million (20 per cent) and wheat falling £23 million

Over the past ten years the output value of crops has increased by £280 million (47 per cent) to £876 million.

The number of cattle decreased by 15,500 (one per cent) to 1.79 million, sheep fell by 65,200 (one per cent) to 6.74 million, pigs by 26,600 (seven per cent) to 363,400, and poultry increased by 168,000 (six per cent) to 14.7 million

The dairy sector benefited from four per cent higher milk prices, while finished cattle and calves saw a ten per cent increase in price

Total beef production in 2012 (including cull) was at 170,000 tonnes, a similar level to 2003, though in most intervening years the volume was higher. Clean finished cattle prices have risen by 74 per cent (from an average of £1.82/kg in 2003 to £3.17/kg in 2011), and a further 11 per cent in 2012 to £3.50/kg.